Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-30


hired out To man who was driving some
stock up the river 10 the Nankton Indian
agency There were some 2O0or 800 head,
and there were several men along with
them To Iuaks this trip had invested
In a pony We arrived at the agency
after several days. and finding that my
services would no longer he required, |
started to return on my pony. ! was
opposite Niobrara. \eb.. and back some
four "r five miles from the river. when |
met two men ou horseback. each leading "A
string Of five or >lN horses som" "t the
ones which were being he'd were wild. and
were giving the men considerable trouble.
They haileG me, and after. a. ! thought,
asking an unnecessary lot "t questions
Cuucerning who WAS. where | came from
and where | wsS going. one of them SAID:
"lm sheriff down ia New braSky. an
nv pudner here l. drprN. We've got Nome
hosses what was stole that we're IakIn
back They don't lead very we'll, and III
give YOU 81 Ia =" with IA this afternoon
an to-morrer an help Us.
An right. said. Where are you
going To cruSS:''
Down al Chouteau creek
Il should think there were better
That the best Cro>sim' round here
we know tbis country like book -
saw that no information was wanted
from me 81 | said no more and went
along with them. | soon saw they weIe
remarkably we'll acquainted with the coun-
try, and appeared &" rather avoid what
few roads and trails there were than other
wise We soon struck Chouteau creek
and started down il, frequently crossing
from one side Ia the other | noticed that
the men were both heavily armed, and ap-
peared rather nervous and in considerable
of a hurry. | thought nothing Of this,
however aS nearly everybody went armed.
officers especially. and II was likely they
wanted 10 make the crossing that night,
and possibly they feared that the thieves
might attempt 1" recover the stock. We
passed through several groves Of large
cottonwood trees, and then turned up the
river =
DO you mind riding all right" ash :.
the sheriff
NO" replied.
I'm make il IA couple o. dollars extra.
We want 10 cross up Eere an get cross
the pint of the reservation an over to
Red Bird on the Niobrara fore we stop"
Go ahead, I'll stay with ycu.''
4 little later | heard the sound Of hOofs
behind us This gave me no unsasiuesS.
but the moment it srruck the ears OF my
companions they took their Winchesters
from where they we've fastened on the
saddle and began To look back intently.
\ moment later dozen h"rNemen came
around the point Of hlutf AT full speed.
Several OF the party fired at us. My com
panions returned the shots and dashed
away. ieaNihS The / "f>es theN were lead
ing. had no doubt that the thieves
from whom they h"d recovered the horses
We're III pursuit, So f"li"wed a. last As
couiu. We We're III an open place near
the river ana headed Tor 'sme cotton
woods ah"nt quarter "i mile distant.
Our horses Were On the run. ana thongh
"heh glanced DaCk saw that our pur-
suers were gaining Oh us, sun We could
easily nave reached the timber ahead of
them hsd not sho' from the party be-
hind MT The deputy sheriff lie fell for
ward ana struck the ground heavily,
While ms morse dashed away. The sherln
stopped ahu returned To hlm While n ball
whislied so uhc"mlortably close 10 my
own ears lhat concluded TO do the same
ouf Pursuers came up ana surrounded us
IL was growing quite dark by this time.
anu could Lot well make out their fe~-
uIes, though l Thought they looked mere
ike FARMERS Than horse thieves. In
moment my suspicious We're confirmed.
Il reckon we've got We this time, said
one of the party, an We bet we'll show
We what this ere vigilance committee con-
slders good for hosS thieves
The wounded man was taken up and
placed Ola horsehacl. two men were de
tailed 10 guard each one IF us and We
started oack tried 1" explain my coli
hec'loh WIN the others. but was sllenc-d
oS the sinH voice "f the leader, who as
sured NE that wonid have chance 10
sNpiaih 'hliR> AT lhe trlaL ms relieved
ine somewhat, rs L had no doubt that l
eoalo easily prove my innocence. We
rode nli about midnight, when We came
10 shihli cluster oI holiSes called Mineral
springs We drew up 3efore a long log
house, which proved 10 l'- saloon and
hotel combined. The bar room was liz up
ana theie were number ot men inside
ana hotses litd outside. They gave
i"ud cheet wien they saw the PRISONERS,
anu there was great deal OF hurried con
'ersalioh. We We're taken Inside and
placed uhdei guard twenty or thirty
men gathered IN the room, when man
sald;
wen, ooSs' we've brought EN- in, an
we got the h"eses. 1 reckon we'd better
Try the men an hN everything up To-
hlSht. Inc cheerman Will please come
lof ARD
man eipoweI MS way through the
crowd anu took ms seat ON box behind
a lara table. ii was Buck Hawkins. i
ieh sun easier, as L had no doubt be
would recognize HE ana set me at liberty.
The trial was very informal, and the
ether two were quickly disposed Of They
Claimed that they had found the horses
cached further up the creek and never
stole them. IL was admitted that perhaps
they iound them hidden, bat il was